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HE-500 on speaker amps via HE-adapter

post #1 of 16
9/7/11 at 9:06am
Thread Starter 

 

I've just bought the HE adapter and the OCC HE-6 cable, and plan to use it with the following two integrated stereo amps:

 

- Abrahamsen V2.0 - AB and class A for the "first watts" (1500VA, 70W on 8ohm and 140W on 4 ohm)

- Primare I32 - Class D (Output Power: 2x 120W at 8Ω 2x 230W at 4Ω )

 

Any piece of advice I should be aware of? Any WARNING signs I should be aware of? Except for the obvious "volume hazard".

 

There was something in the past regarding class D amps versus use of headphones from the speaker taps. I'm I right that would not be a concern by using the HE-adapter. A bit noob her...


Edited by Loevhagen - 9/7/11 at 9:09am
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post #2 of 16
9/7/11 at 2:29pm

Are these two amps your look at purchasing? Or do you have them, and are asking us what we think?

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post #3 of 16
9/7/11 at 2:53pm

Heya,

 

Oohhhh I'm interested in this too. I'd love to feed my HE-500 serous wattage and see what happens.

Very best,

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post #4 of 16
9/7/11 at 10:49pm
Thread Starter 

 

I own both already, but my question is simply if there is something I should pay notice of for the class D (grounding issues?) 
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by cifani090 View Post

Are these two amps your look at purchasing? Or do you have them, and are asking us what we think?



 

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post #5 of 16
9/8/11 at 4:35am

As long as you drive the phones balanced (separate positive and negative wire for each channel), there should be no problem.

Class D amps usually have separate positive and negative outputs for each channel, so connecting phones with common ground (negative wire) is resulting in a short circuit.

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post #6 of 16
9/8/11 at 4:55am
Thread Starter 

Thanks. I'll use the HE-adpater and the HE-6 cable using the 4-pin XLR from the HE-500to the HE-adapter. I.e. based on your elaboration that would be fool proof, yes?

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post #7 of 16
9/8/11 at 5:34am

Sure, assuming that Hifiman/Fang has assembled the 4-pin XLR and the HE-adapter correctlybiggrin.gif.

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post #8 of 16
9/8/11 at 6:50am
Thread Starter 

Total paranoia, is total awareness. cool.gif

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post #9 of 16
9/10/11 at 12:36pm

Did you ever get around to do it?

I have a HE-6, HE speaker adapter box and NAD M2 (= class D amp) on order and would hate to short circuit the amp on day one ...

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post #10 of 16
9/11/11 at 1:43pm
Thread Starter 

I expect to receive the adapter next week.

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post #11 of 16
9/11/11 at 4:10pm
i don't know how it'll sound but you'll be fine. all adapter boxes use resistors in series so you won't be getting the full force of the power amp section at all. only way you can receive the full force is re-cabling your headphones to be used straight out of the speaker outputs.
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post #12 of 16
9/13/11 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 

Based on feedback from the amp manufacturer, I'm not pursuing the Primare class D option. In order to use it I was presented two pieces of advice:

 

 

1.       Connect the loudspeaker cable from the box  to the left channel of the I32 out of face (plus / minus reverse)
2.       Besides that you also have to rewire that channel internally and reverse plus and minus
 
I'll stick to the AB-amp. 
 
Adapter received, but someone is borrowing the HE-500 and the HE-6 hasn't arrived yet so I need to wait...
 
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post #13 of 16
9/29/11 at 10:08am
Thread Starter 

Used the HE-adapter with HE-6 for 2 weeks.

 

Tried to hook the HE-300 with HE-6 cable to the HE-adapter (from a speaker amp) just for fun. Works OK. 

 

I get my HE-500 back next week and look forward to listen to them on the speaker amp. :)


Edited by Loevhagen - 9/29/11 at 10:09am
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post #14 of 16
9/29/11 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loevhagen View Post

Used the HE-adapter with HE-6 for 2 weeks.

 

Tried to hook the HE-300 with HE-6 cable to the HE-adapter (from a speaker amp) just for fun. Works OK. 

 

I get my HE-500 back next week and look forward to listen to them on the speaker amp. :)


Waiting for your impressions!

 

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post #15 of 16
10/6/11 at 8:15am
Thread Starter 

I have mixed experiences with the HE Adapter on two different stereo amplifiers and heaphones HE-300, HE-500. HE-6 and LCD-2. The amplifiers are Abrahamsen V2.0 (70W @ 8ohm and 140W @ 4ohm, high current) and Primare I32 (120W @ 8ohm and 230W @ 4 ohm. UFDP proprietary design):

 

Tested just for for fun:

HE-300 on Primare I32 - Way too much hiss, both during playback and between songs. Doesn't work at all. Definitely not recommended 

HE-300 on Abrahamsen - Some hiss. No need to use this combination. Tested it just out of curiosity.

 

Tested due to genuine interests:

HE-500 on Primare I32 - Very, very, very subtle hiss. HE-500 scales with this stereo amp

HE-500 on Abrahamsen - Not tested yet. Will do later

HE-6 on Primare I32 - No hiss. Total silence. HE-6 scales very well with stereo amp

HE-6 on Abrahamsen - No hiss. Total silence. HE-6 scales OK with stereo amp

LCD-2 on Primare I32 - Subtle hiss. Not recommended

LCD-2 on Abrahamsen - Not tested yet. Will do later

 

Conclusion:

The HE-6 on Primare I32 is a keeper. Oh, yes. :)

The HE-500 on Primare I32; a bit unsure here. The very, very, very sibtle hiss bothers me a bit between songs. During playback it sounds quite nice actually

LCD-2 on Primare; no point. I´ll stick to the  headamp I have for the Audezes (Violectric V200), if the Abrahamsen does not convince / surprise me on the LCD-2s

 

For higher sensitive headphones, a less powerfull ampliferer than the Primare I32 should be used. Will test LCD-2 and HE-500 on the Abrahamsen.

 


Edited by Loevhagen - 10/6/11 at 8:18am
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